Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 13 December 2004 (WA 55), whether they will place in the Library of the House the minutes of meetings between the Ulster-Scots Agency and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
	When they will answer the Question for Written Answer tabled by the Lord Laird on 12 January (HL728) concerning minutes of meetings between the Ulster-Scots Agency and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure; and why there has been a delay in answering.

Baroness Amos: The outcome of the discussion about the budget for the North/South Language Body for 2004–05, which includes the Ulster-Scots Agency, was reflected in the boards business plan for that year. A copy of the boards business plan will be placed in the Library.
	The delay in answering the noble Lord's Question is regretted, and was due to the need to consider freedom of information requests with an international relations dimension. That process involved discussion between a range of government departments.

Northern Ireland: Funding for Nationalist and Unionist Festivals

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 24 February (WA 224) concerning the funding of Nationalist and Unionist festivals in Northern Ireland, what were the amounts provided in (a) 2003, and (b) 2004, by those departments which keep records; and which projects received this funding.

Baroness Amos: The only body which keeps records in respect of community background is the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council (CRC) which provides support to festivals either on the basis of cross-community activity or else in the interests of appreciation of cultural diversity and promoting mutual understanding between the communities in Northern Ireland. The table below lists the funding allocation for festivals by the CRC.
	
		2002–03
		
			 Nationalist 2002–03   £ Unionist 2002–03   £ 
			 Patrick Sarsfields 473 NI Flute League Band 200 
			 Colin Festival Committee 400 Waterside Development 
			 Trust 4,800 
			 Drumaroad and Clanvaragh Community Association 400 Cairncastle LOL Larne 800 
			   St Hilda's Church 300 
			   Whiterock Festival 2,500 
			 Total 1,273 Total 8,600 
		
	
	
		
			 Other 2002–03£ 
			 Armagh Pipers Club 1,500 
			 T Makem International Festival of Song 2,000 
			 Gig n the Bann Festival 300 
			 Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival 200 
			 Two Cathedrals Festival Ltd 772 
			 McNean Environment Committee 2,100 
			 Together in Music 900 
			 ICTU 4,500 
			 Belfast Film Festival 5,000 
			 Lagan Valley Heritage and Cultural Society 1,250 
			 Coleraine Rural and Urban Network 890 
			 Ulster American Folk Park 3,000 
			 Total 22,412 
		
	
	
		2003–04
		
			 Nationalist 2003–04 Unionist 2003–04   £ 
			 Feile an Phobail 7,500 Whiterock Festival 5,000 
			 Total 7,500 Total 5,000 
		
	
	
		
			 Other 2003–04 
			 Gig n the Bann 5,000 
			 T Makem International Festival of Song 2,000 
			 Chinese Welfare Association 1,500 
			 Belfast Film Festival 5,000 
			 Westbay Folk Club 3,070 
			 Mid-Ulster Cultural and Heritage Association 900 
			 Total 17,470

Northern Ireland: Northern Bank Robbery

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 24 February (WA 221–222) regarding the Northern Bank robbery, whether the Chief Constable and the Government have overlooked the £10 million which has been acknowledged as being untraceable; and whether that figure can now be revised upwards or downwards.

Baroness Amos: There is no question of any of the moneys stolen during the Northern Bank robbery being overlooked. The PSNI is undertaking a major investigation into the robbery and every effort is being made to recover all of the stolen notes. While inquiries are continuing it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further.
	In respect of my previous Written Answer the Chief Constable's comment that the Northern Bank notes stolen in the robbery could be regarded as wastepaper followed the bank's decision to withdraw from circulation their current bank notes and replace them with notes of a different colour and style. The Chief Constable's statement should be taken in that context.

Northern Ireland: Paramilitary Ceasefire

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a former member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, who did not retain her seat in the Assembly elections in November 2003, applied for or was approached about the now-vacant post of Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; when she so applied or was approached; whether she was interviewed; when, where and by whom she was interviewed; whether she was offered the position; if so, whether she has accepted; and, if so, when she did so.

Baroness Amos: All applications are treated in confidence and we do not comment on individual applicants.
	The appointments process for Chief Commissioner has been in accordance with OCPA guidelines and has a strong independent element.

Northern Ireland: Arms Decommissioning

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 2 March (WA 23), whether the murder of Robert McCartney in Belfast represented a breach by the IRA of its ceasefire; and, if not, which considerations in Section 3(9) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 led to that conclusion.

Baroness Amos: The Secretary of State makes his judgment under Section 3(8)(b) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998. In applying Section 3(8)(b) the Secretary of State takes into account all relevant considerations including those set out in section 3(9) of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 in particular. The Secretary of State currently believes that the IRA is maintaining a ceasefire within the meaning of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the religious category for employment purposes of all the senior staff of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and what is the comparable breakdown for Northern Ireland generally.

Baroness Amos: The information requested by the noble Lord is detailed below:
	
		
			  
			 Protestant 5 
			 Roman Catholic 5 
			 Not Determined 1 
		
	
	The Equality Commission Publication Monitoring Report No. 14: A Profile of the Northern Ireland Workforce in 2003 states that the number of monitored employees in 2003 stood at 486,420. The composition of those for whom a community could be determined was 58.3 per cent Protestant and 41.7 per cent Catholic.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure the dismantling of all armed groups in Northern Ireland, including militant armed factions, from all sectarian groups.

Baroness Amos: The Government have consistently maintained that the decommissioning of illegal weapons and the final disbandment of all paramilitary organisations has been and remains a vital element of permanently removing the violence from Northern Ireland society. It will resolutely continue to pursue complete decommissioning of all paramilitary weapons and the end of all paramilitary organisations, both republican and loyalist.

Africa: Aid

Lord Steinberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their proposed aid to Africa will write off all outstanding debts.

Baroness Amos: The UK Government are committed to the goal of 100 per cent debt relief for poor countries in sub-Saharan Africa. DfID continues to press for the rapid and full implementation of the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. This initiative is delivering real benefits to some of the world's poorest countries. To date, over $70 billion in debt relief is being provided to 27 countries, including 23 in sub-Saharan Africa, reducing their debts by around two-thirds on average, and freeing up resources for spending on poverty reduction. The UK goes beyond the HIPC initiative and writes off 100 per cent of bilateral debts for HIPC countries and holds in trust any debt service payments received from HIPC countries that have not yet qualified for debt relief, to be returned for spending on poverty reduction once qualified.
	Despite the successes of the HIPC initiative, the UK believes that we must go further still. Many bilateral donors have joined the UK in providing 100 per cent bilateral relief, but multilateral institutions currently provide relief at around half this level. The UK has therefore announced a major new initiative for relief of 100 per cent multilateral debt. The UK has committed to paying its share (10 per cent) of the debt service payments owed to the World Bank and the African Development Bank on behalf of eligible countries, and is actively working to encourage other countries to participate, allowing realisation of our goal of 100 per cent. multilateral debt relief. DfID is also urging the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to consider options for financing its share of 100 per cent debt relief, including through the use of internal resources.
	DfID is keen to ensure both the equitable treatment of HIPC and non-HIPC countries and that the savings accrued from this debt relief are spent on achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs). For this reason, relief will be extended to all countries that have formally completed the HIPC process and all other International Development Association (IDA) (i.e. eligible to borrow only from the most concessional lending arm World Bank) low-income countries with sound public financial management systems. Twelve African countries currently meet these criteria, but this number will increase as more countries complete the HIPC process or reach the public financial management standards.
	Broader and deeper debt relief was discussed at the G7 Finance Ministers meeting in February, where it was agreed that further debt relief was needed, and in principle, as much as 100 per cent multilateral debt relief. We will continue to work with G7 countries, the IMF and the World Bank to put this principle into action and encourage them to join us in this initiative, so that no poor country in Africa committed to poverty reduction and the MDGs has to choose between servicing its debt and funding development. Canada has recently announced that it will also pay its share (4 per cent), and we hope that others will join us soon.
	In summary, although the UK is committed to the goal of 100 per cent bilateral and multilateral debt relief for the world's poorest countries, and much has been achieved to date, we recognise that there is still further to go. We will therefore continue to work hard and take the lead within the international community in ensuring that broader and deeper debt relief is provided for poor countries.

Northern Ireland: Teachers

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 14 March (WA 103) concerning the employment of teachers in Northern Ireland, which department drafted Article 15 of the equal treatment Council Directive 2000/78/EC; and whether the view of the European Commission on the exclusion of Northern Ireland was sought and acted upon.

Baroness Amos: The initial draft of European Union Equal Treatment Directive 2000/78/EC was published by the European Commission and subsequently enacted, after amendment, by the EU Council. During council negotiations the then Department for Education and Employment (the lead department on behalf of the UK), the UK permanent representation and the European Commission were made aware of the existing teachers' exemption in the fair employment and treatment legislation.
	Article 15(2), which secured an exemption in relation to the recruitment of teachers in Northern Ireland, was the outcome of council negotiations on an amendment proposed by the United Kingdom after discussion with the Commission. Northern Ireland input was provided by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, which has responsibility for fair employment and treatment legislative issues.

Northern Ireland: Executive Programme Funds

Lord Steinberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any new plans to provide for either direct rule or the reinstatement of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Baroness Amos: The Government's ultimate goal remains the restoration of an inclusive, power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland. However, recent events have undermined the trust and confidence necessary to achieve that objective.
	While criminal activity continues to hamper the progress made towards devolved government, we are continuing to explore ways of moving the process forwards. I am also giving careful consideration to suggestions made to me on improving accountability under direct rule.

Northern Ireland: Executive Programme Funds

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the financial year 2003–04, what was the value of executive programme funds; for what purposes the funds were allocated; how much in each case; whether any money was carried forward to the following year; if so, how much; and for what purpose.

Baroness Amos: In 2003–04, the total value of executive programme funds (EPFs) was £273.8 million. Allocation of funding to individual EPFs, and details of amounts carried forward to 2004–05 was as set out in the following table:
	
		£million
		
			 Fund 2003–04 allocation Amount carried forward to 2004–05 
			 Children's Fund 26.3 19.5 
			 Social Inclusion/Community Regeneration   Fund 50.0 21.4 
			 Infrastructure Fund 55.6 24.5 
			 Innovation and Modernisation Fund 122.0 67.2 
			 Integrated Development Fund 20.0 20.0 
			 Total 273.8 152.6 
		
	
	Of the amounts carried forward to 2004–05, departments subsequently re-profiled £49.8 million to future years. All amounts carried forward were ring-fenced for the purposes for which they were originally allocated.
	The main purposes of the funds and any associated allocations are:
	Social inclusion/community regeneration: to fund action against poverty and supporting community relations and for cultural diversity;
	Innovation and Modernisation: to promote efficiency and innovation within departments, the wider public sector and major public spending programmes. This can embrace aspects of change as well as new approaches to economic strategy and the development of creative industries;
	Infrastructure: to support strategic network projects including road, rail, energy and telecommunications;
	Children's Fund: to provide support for children in need, and youth at risk. The voluntary and community sector are able to bid for resources from the fund;
	Integrated Development: to promote greater local partnership working to produce and implement integrated development strategies for local areas. The strategies should complement existing government strategies for economic, social, community or physical renewal.

Department for International Development: Sri Lanka Office

Lord Steel of Aikwood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department for International Development country office and aid programme in Sri Lanka will remain in place in the long term.

Baroness Amos: Sri Lanka is a middle-income country with a relatively small proportion of people living in absolute poverty (approximately 1 million, or 6 per cent of the population are estimated to be living on less than $1 per day). It has nearly achieved most of the millennium development goals. Poverty reduction in Sri Lanka is dependent upon ending the 20-year civil war, and achieving lasting peace. DfID's programme in Sri Lanka is therefore focused on peace-building and conflict-prevention, both of which are crucial to poverty-reduction in Sri Lanka. We aim to support the wider international effort in Sri Lanka and to reduce Sri Lanka's vulnerability to falling back to lower-income status. DfID works closely with the FCO and MoD under the framework of a joint peace-building and reconciliation strategy. We will be reviewing the strategy towards the end of this year, and will make announcements about future support following this review about future support.
	Following the tsunami, the UK announced that Sri Lanka would be added to the list of countries eligible for the UK's multilateral debt initiative. Under this initiative, the UK will pay a share (10 per cent, or around £55 million) of Sri Lanka's debt service costs to the World Bank until 2015.
	DfID does not have a "country office" in Sri Lanka. A small team based in the British High Commission in Colombo helps deliver the Sri Lanka programme, which is managed by our Bangkok office.

Prime Minister's Office: Contacts with BBC

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many representations, formal or informal, have been made to BBC news and current affairs personnel by the Prime Minister's Director of Communications and his staff since 1 March; and
	How many representations, formal or informal, have been made to BBC news and current affairs personnel by the Prime Minister's Director of Government Relations and his staff since 1 March; and
	How many representations, formal or informal, have been made to BBC news and current affairs personnel by the Prime Minister's Director of Political Operations and his staff since 1 March.

Baroness Amos: All special advisers and officials' contacts with the media are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the code of conduct of special advisers and the civil service management code.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the report into bullying and mismanagement at Waterways Ireland confirmed that the chief executive was guilty of either or both offences; and, if so, what action they are taking.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to a statement on the investigation at Waterways Ireland that was jointly issued on 4 April 2005 by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA).
	The statement is available in the Library.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 21 March (WA 1) concerning appointments to Waterways Ireland, whether the appointment of the Director of Marketing and Communications was fully compliant with current employment law in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Amos: The Government are not aware of any breach of Northern Ireland employment law by Waterways Ireland in the matter of the appointment of the post of Director of Marketing and Communications.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 23 March (WA 29) concerning recruitment to Waterways Ireland, whether the appointment of the Director of Marketing and Communications took account of the financial memorandum annexe entitled Staffing Principles of North South Implementation Bodies.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the joint statement issued by the sponsor departments for Waterways Ireland on 4 April 2005, which is available in the Library.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Waterways Ireland carried out a risk assessment of the organisation in the summer of 2004 which used up to 40 senior managers and was supervised by Deloitte and Touche in Dublin; and, if so, what was the broad conclusion of the assessment.

Baroness Amos: Waterways Ireland commenced a risk assessment exercise in the summer of 2004. This exercise remains ongoing and no conclusions have yet been reached.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their assessment of the numbers of (a) fatalities; (b) displaced people; and (c) people dependent on aid in Darfur, Sudan.

Baroness Amos: There are very little data on the number of people who have died in Darfur. The World Health Organisation (WHO) survey on mortality, published on 15 October 2004, estimated that between the beginning of March and end of September cumulative excess deaths were between 35,000 and 70,000. The UN Emergency Response Co-ordinator, Jan Egeland recently suggested that there had been up to 180,000 deaths in Darfur. We understand that this figure is extrapolated from findings of the WHO survey. However, the WHO survey was only of internally displaced people in camps. Though it asked respondents to report deaths during the previous two months, it is not possible from the answers provided to calculate with confidence how many of the deaths reported were due to violence or other causes prior to arrival in the camps.
	DfID recognises the need for more accurate data, and the UK is funding a second crude mortality survey by the World Health Organisation in conjunction with the Sudanese Ministry of Health. We expect results by the end of May. This can, however, give only a snapshot of the situation. We are unlikely ever to get a full picture of deaths from this conflict.
	According to the latest UN humanitarian needs profile for Darfur, at 1 March 2005 there were 2.45 million people in Darfur affected by the crisis and in need of humanitarian assistance. Of these, 1.86 million were displaced. There are an additional 200,000 refugees from Darfur across the border in eastern Chad.

Northern Ireland: Cross-border Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 23 March (WA 29) concerning decisions of the cross-border bodies, how the views of the Unionist community are taken into consideration, as envisaged in the Belfast agreement of 1998, for areas that do not have board members.

Baroness Amos: Since the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly in October 2002, all North/South implementation bodies have operated on a care and maintenance basis. That precludes the development of any policies or activities beyond those already agreed by the North/South Ministerial Council, which did of course include Unionist representation.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect a decision to be taken regarding the childcare and family friendly issues being considered by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's human resources department; and whether they will place a copy of the externally prepared report in the Library of the House.

Baroness Amos: The Police Service of Northern Ireland is currently undertaking work in relation to this issue. The external consultant's report is being amalgamated into the scoping document examining potential childcare initiatives in the PSNI. It is anticipated that this document will not be finalised until October 2005.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 17 March (WA 141) on the Equality Diversity Unit of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, who are the stakeholders that are being consulted; what are the different policy options being considered; when a decision is expected on any policy changes; when they expect such changes to be implemented; and whether there will be any recompense for those employees who have not received flexible childcare arrangements due to the non-implementation of recommendation 123 of the Patten report.

Baroness Amos: I am advised that a small working party has been established to review the existing flexible and part-time working arrangements within the Police Service of Northern Ireland and will examine all the issues surrounding childcare and flexible working within PSNI. This scoping work is expected to be completed by October 2005.
	I am assured by the PSNI that the key stakeholders to be engaged in the policy development process will be relevant and representative. Any initiatives under consideration will be subject to the preparation of a business case and the securing of additional resources if necessary.

Northern Ireland: Police Ombudsman

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord President on 7 February (WA 77) and 24 March (WA 49), whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland's letter to the Lord Chancellor and his reply.

Baroness Amos: The letters referred to are private correspondence between the office of the Police Ombudsman and the Lord Chancellor. The Police Ombudsman's office has been asked to write direct to the noble Lord on the matter.

Northern Ireland: Police Ombudsman

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord President on 7 February (WA 77) and 24 March (WA 49), whether it is common and accepted practice for those involved in prosecuting a case in court to seek "clarification from the magistrate through correspondence" after the outcome of the case.

Baroness Amos: No.

Northern Ireland: Police Ombudsman

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 24 March (WA 48), whether they expect the budget of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland to continue to run at 7.5 times that of the joint office of the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints.

Baroness Amos: The budget allocations for the Police Ombudsman's office and the joint office of the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints during the SR2004 cycle, which covers the next 3 years, are as follows:
	
		
			 Year Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Joint office of the Assembly Ombudsman for NI and the NI Commissioner for Complaints 
			 2005–06 £8,383k £l,344k 
			 2006–07 £8,756k £l,344k 
			 2007–08 £9,014k £l,344k

Northern Ireland: Police Ombudsman

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 24 March (WA 48), what are the respective staffing levels in the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Joint Office of the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints.

Baroness Amos: The current staff complement of the Police Ombudsman's office is 128 and the complement of the Assembly Ombudsman and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints Office is 24.

Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 24 March (WA 48), whether, if the position of Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People does not fall within the classification of "Oversight Commissioner", they will provide the equivalent information for this post.

Baroness Amos: The Commissioner for Children and Young People for Northern Ireland was established under the Commissioner for Children & Young People (Northern Ireland) Order (2003). Mr Nigel Williams took up post as the first Commissioner for Children and Young People in Northern Ireland on 1 October 2003. The commissioner receives a salary of £77,610 per annum.
	The main aim of the commissioner is to safeguard and promote the rights and best interests of children and young people. The powers and duties of the commissioner include: the duty to review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice relating to the rights and welfare of children; power of review complaints, advocacy, inspection and whistle-blowing arrangements of relevant authorities; power to investigate complaints in certain circumstances; and power to bring, assist in or intervene in legal proceedings.
	The commissioner's budget for financial years 2003–05 is as follows:
	
		
			  
			 2003–04 £1,400,000 
			 2004–05 £1,725,000

Newry and Mourne: Planning Permission

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many dwellings in Newry and Mourne District Council area have been erected without planning permission in each of the past five years.

Baroness Amos: It is not possible to provide a definitive number of dwellings erected without planning permission in the Newry and Mourne District Council area, as all unauthorised dwellings may not have been brought to the attention of the Planning Service. I can advise that the total number of enforcement cases opened in the Newry and Mourne District Council area over the past five years is as shown. It should be noted, however, that the cases relate to all enforcement cases. A breakdown of cases relating only to unauthorised dwellings cannot be provided due to disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  
			 Jan 2001—Dec 2001 78 
			 Jan 2002—Dec 2002 125 
			 Jan 2003—Dec 2003 181 
			 Jan 2004—Dec 2004 271 
			 Jan 2005—to date 68

Iraq: Legality of Armed Force

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Goldsmith on 28 February (WA 1), in what ministerial capacity the Lord Falconer of Thoroton and the Baroness Morgan of Huyton were acting at the meeting on 13 March 2003.

Lord Goldsmith: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave to his Question HL1802 on 4 April (WA 69).

Iraq: Legality of Armed Force

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Goldsmith on 28 February (WA 1), whether the Lord Falconer of Thoroton or the Baroness Morgan of Huyton brought any information that the Prime Minister was satisfied about the factual grounds for concluding that Iraq was guilty of non-compliance and non-co-operation as set out in paragraph 379 of the Butler report to the meeting with the Attorney-General on 13 March 2003; if so, whether that information was in written form; and whether it was simultaneously circulated to members of the Cabinet.

Lord Goldsmith: No.

Jubilee Line Fraud Case

Lord Skelmersdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Minister or government official authorised the initiation of proceedings on the Jubilee Line fraud case.

Lord Goldsmith: Before the defendants were charged by the police the cases against them were reviewed by a special casework lawyer in the Crown Prosecution Service's Casework Directorate. Among the charges were corruption offences which required the Attorney's consent. The consent of my predecessor, Lord Williams, was accordingly sought to prosecute for the corruption offences. Lord Williams granted that consent.
	I have not at this stage thought it right to supply the name of the CPS lawyer concerned. He acted under the Director of Public Prosecution's authority, and he has a right to privacy.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Inter-Parliamentary Union

Lord McColl of Dulwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What value they place on meeting Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Inter-Parliamentary Union delegates.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We value highly the work of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Inter-Parliamentary Union and see value in meetings with visiting delegates. We regret that the pressure of departmental and parliamentary work on Ministers' time does not always make this possible.

Turkey: Human Rights

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the findings and recommendations of the Human Rights Watch report, Still Critical, on prospects in 2005 for internally displaced Kurds in Turkey.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government welcome the focus of Human Rights Watch on an issue that will require further effort from the Turkish Government, and broadly supports the recommendations of the report Still Critical. We would concur with the report's conclusion that the Turkish Government's current proposals have the potential to address the recommendations of the United Nations Special Representative on Internal Displacement in large measure, if they are implemented quickly and thoroughly. We maintain a high level dialogue with the Turkish Government on their domestic reform programme, including on the issue of internally displaced persons.

Turkey: Human Rights

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they will take during the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Union to ensure that independent monitors are able to conduct onsite observations on the Turkish government's implementation of the return programme for internally displaced Kurds, the reconstruction of villages and the disbandment of the village guards.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Scrutiny of domestic reform in Turkey remains intense, including of the situation regarding internally displaced persons. The European Commission's 2004 regular report on Turkey's progress towards accession included an assessment of the progress made by the Turkish Government in addressing the return of displaced persons. The European Commission, as mandated by the European Council in December 2004, continues to monitor the situation and will report again this October. Our embassy monitors the human rights situation in Turkey closely and maintains a regular dialogue with the Commission office in Ankara.

British Citizenship: Applications by Overseas Residents

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 27 October (WA 129), whether the Home Office will issue a status letter giving official recognition of a person's British nationality status to an overseas resident whose British nationality is difficult or complicated to prove, but who satisfies the Home Office of his nationality by the production of satisfactory evidence; and whether the Home Office will issue such a status letter if a request is made in writing directly to the International Nationality Directorate in Liverpool with the necessary documentary evidence.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: A status letter may be issued in the circumstances described. However a status letter would not normally be sent in cases where the documentary evidence possessed by a person conclusively shows him or her to be a British national. Instead a letter confirming recognition of the person's nationality status on production of those documents should be sufficient confirmation of his or her status.
	A status letter should be issued only if it is certain that the person in question wants one, or if one is needed to confirm recognition that that person possesses British nationality (e.g. in order to obtain a British passport).

Prisoners: Next of Kin

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What improvements they have been able to make since the summer of 2004 in the systems for booking family and next-of kin visits to prisoners and for informing next-of-kin when prisoners are moved from one prison to another.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Prison Service has a statutory obligation to encourage and assist prisoners to maintain meaningful family ties as an integral part of their rehabilitation. Regular contact with family can help the prisoner to achieve a better transition from imprisonment to resettlement within the community. Successful reintegration is important in reducing the likelihood of reoffending and, in turn, meeting the prime objectives of protecting the public and reducing crime.
	One of the aids to improving communication and contact with families is an efficient telephone booking system for visits. Many establishments now provide such a service. The Prison Service is also developing a new electronic booking system which is initially to be rolled out to eight establishments and will be made available to other prisons in due course. Comprehensive written information on visiting arrangements is now available for families and other visitors and further guidance will be issued shortly.
	With regard to the transfer of prisoners, it is well established policy and practice in such circumstances to provide at least one special letter in addition to the statutory allowance, and prompt access to a telephone. Alternatively, staff may call on behalf of the prisoner. There are a small number of prisoners (for example high risk prisoners) where, for operational and security reasons, details of their transfer cannot be provided until the transfer has been completed. The onus is on the prisoner to determine who should be contacted. For privacy reasons, there is no obligation to contact next of kin.
	Since summer 2004, approximately 10 per cent more telephones have been made available to prisoners across the estate, increasing their number to 3,615.

Justice and Community Safety Inspectorate

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their proposals for a Justice and Community Safety Inspectorate will ensure that the sharpness and focus of the current Prison Inspectorate for England and Wales are not blunted or blurred, and that the new regime will allow for sufficient flexibility to enable unannounced inspections to be carried out.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government are a firm advocate of independent and robust inspection of prisons and other places of detention. The proposal for the establishment of a new inspectorate, outlined in the consultation document Inspection Reform: Establishing an Inspectorate for Justice and Community Safety (published on 23 March 2005) maintains that the inspection of the treatment and conditions of those in custody must be core to the new inspectorate's remit. The new inspectorate will be designed to ensure the continuation of the independent inspection of closed custodial institutions and the use of unannounced inspections. The consultation document sets out a number of internal structures to illustrate how this might happen. Views are sought by 15 June 2005.

Asylum Seekers: Admissions

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total number of asylum seekers admitted to the United Kingdom in 2004; and how these figures compared to those for France, the United States and Germany.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The available information relates to the number of asylum applications received, and not to the number of individuals admitted in 2004 who subsequently claimed asylum.
	Including dependants, the number of asylum applications received in the UK in 2004 was 40,200, France received 59,400, the United States of America received 52,400, and Germany received 35,600.
	Information on the number of applications for asylum in European countries and elsewhere are published regularly in the asylum statistics available from the Library of the House and on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	Sources: France, Germany data from IGC; USA data from UNHCR including an estimated number of dependants.

Asylum Seekers: Admissions

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the per capita number of asylum seekers, in terms of total population, admitted to each of the European Union member states in 2004.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The table below shows the number of asylum applications received and the number of asylum seekers per head of population in European Union countries.
	Information on the number of applications for asylum in European countries per head of population and elsewhere are published regularly in the asylum statistics available from the Library of the House and on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		Applications 1  for Asylum in European Countries and Elsewhere, Including Dependants, 2004
		
			  
			  Asylum applications 2004 Asylum applications per 1,000 ofpopulation  2 
			 Austria 24,700 3.0 
			 Belgium 17,500 1.7 
			 Denmark 3,200 0.6 
			 Finland 3,900 0.7 
			 France 59,400 1.0 
			 Germany 35,600 0.4 
			 Greece 4,500 0.4 
			 Ireland 4,800 1.2 
			 Italy ++++ ++++ 
			 Luxembourg 1,600 3.2 
			 Netherlands 9,800 0.6 
			 Portugal 100 0.0 
			 Spain 5,400 0.1 
			 Sweden 23,200 2.6 
			 United Kingdom 40,200 0.7 
			 Total EU15 excluding   Italy233,8000.6 
			 Cyprus 9,900 11.0 
			 Czech Republic 5,500 0.5 
			 Estonia * 0.0 
			 Hungary 1,600 0.2 
			 Latvia * 0.0 
			 Lithuania 100 0.0 
			 Malta 1,200 3.1 
			 Poland 8,100 0.2 
			 Slovakia 11,400 2.1 
			 Slovenia 1,200 0.6 
			 Total EU25 excluding   Italy 272,700 0.6 
			 Other Europe   
			 Norway 7,900 1.7 
			 Switzerland 14,200 1.9 
			 Total Europe 294,900 0.6 
		
	
	1 Figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest 100 with * less than a hundred.
	2 Sources:
	IGC, UNHCR, 2004 World Population Data Sheet, Population Reference Bureau website, using population data for mid-2004.
	3 Figures based on IGC data but adjusted to include an estimated number of dependants.
	Figures based on UNHCR data, including dependants.
	Note:
	The following countries joined the EU on 1 May 2004: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia.

Prisoners: Young Adults

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many (a) male and (b) female 18 to 21 year olds have been held in prison in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The population of young adults in prison establishments in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system, is provided in the table below.
	
		Population of Young Adults aged 18–20* in prison establishments by sex, England and Wales, 30 June
		
			  Males Females 
			 1995 6,666 229 
			 1996 7,172 284 
			 1997 8,156 287 
			 1998 8,704 366 
			 1999 8,480 376 
			 2000 8,370 410 
			 2001 8,172 425 
			 2002 8,474 544 
			 2003 8,309 480 
			 2004 8,074 440 
		
	
	* includes some 21 year-olds who have not yet been reclassified as adults, and some 18 year-olds serving detention and training orders.

Prisoners: Young Adults

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many 18 to 21 year-olds are held in each young offender institution and, where relevant, prison in England and Wales.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The population of young adults in prison establishments in England and Wales, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system on 28 February 2005, is provided in the table below.
	
		Population of young adults 18–20* in prison establishments, by establishment England and Wales, 28 February 2005
		
			 Total 8,303 
			 Altcourse 96 
			 Ashfield 42 
			 Askham Grange 5 
			 Aylesbury 365 
			 Belmarsh 18 
			 Birmingham 3 
			 Blakenhurst 1 
			 Brinsford 252 
			 Bristol 42 
			 Brixton 1 
			 Brockhill 13 
			 Bronzefield 20 
			 Bullingdon 1 
			 Bullwood Hall 101 
			 Camp Hill 1 
			 Castington 262 
			 Chelmsford 126 
			 Cookham Wood 2 
			 Dartmoor 1 
			 Deerbolt 438 
			 Doncaster 338 
			 Dorchester 19 
			 Downview 5 
			 Drake Hall 18 
			 Durham 1 
			 East Sutton Park 2 
			 Eastwood Park 35 
			 Elmley 66 
			 Exeter 53 
			 Featherstone 2 
			 Feltham 391 
			 Forest Bank 137 
			 Foston Hall 3 
			 Full Sutton 1 
			 Garth 2 
			 Glen Parva 778 
			 Gloucester 14 
			 Guys Marsh 69 
			 Highdown 55 
			 Hindley 264 
			 Hollesley Bay (Warren Hill) 19 
			 Holloway 54 
			 Holme House 4 
			 Hull 118 
			 Huntercombe 59 
			 Lancaster Farms 300 
			 Lewes 28 
			 Lindholme 6 
			 Liverpool 3 
			 Low Newton 40 
			 Manchester 2 
			 Moorland 366 
			 Moorland Open 62 
			 New Hall 68 
			 Northallerton 128 
			 Norwich 176 
			 Nottingham 1 
			 Onley 164 
			 Parc 374 
			 Parkhurst 6 
			 Portland 456 
			 Reading 245 
			 Risley 1 
			 Rochester 376 
			 Stafford 1 
			 Stoke Heath 466 
			 Styal 27 
			 Swinfen Hall 291 
			 Thorn Cross 241 
			 Wakefield 1 
			 Warren Hill 33 
			 Wellingborough 1 
			 Werrington 22 
			 Wetherby 46 
			 Whitemoor 1 
			 Woodhill 75 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 1 
		
	
	* includes some 21 year-olds who have not yet been reclassified as adults, and some 18 year-olds serving detention and training orders.

Helicopters

Baroness Michie of Gallanach: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the first recommendation was made for the Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter fleet to be fitted with (a) cockpit voice recorders; and (b) accident data recorders; and when the completion of the fit to the entire fleet was made.

Lord Bach: A recommendation was approved in the MoD's 1988 planning round to fund a Chinook cockpit voice recorder (CVR). The plan was amended later that year to provide a crashworthy flight data recorder (FDR). This was subsequently absorbed into a programme for a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS), a recommendation for which funding was approved in the 1994 planning round. The embodiment of HUMS commenced in 1999, and by 2002 the whole of the Chinook Mk2/2a fleet was fitted.

Helicopters

Baroness Michie of Gallanach: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Royal Air Force drafted and implemented a formal instrument flight climb procedure for (a) the HC1 Chinook helicopter fleet; and (b) the HC2 helicopter fleet.

Lord Bach: The implementation of a formal instrument flight climb procedure was a recommendation of the board of inquiry into the crash of Chinook ZD576. A Strike Command action letter requiring formalisation of the procedure was issued on 24 May 1995. The procedure was subsequently promulgated in the support helicopter air staff orders book. Since the creation of Joint Helicopter Command, the support helicopter air staff orders have been superseded by the Joint Helicopter Command flying orders book. The instrument flight climb procedure is now promulgated in the Chinook helicopter standard operating procedures.

Helicopters

Lord Steinberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans the Ministry of Defence has to provide new attack helicopters when eight Chinook helicopters have remained unused for five years.

Lord Bach: Chinook and Apache helicopters have been procured to meet distinct capability requirements. The Chinook helicopter is not an attack helicopter. The Ministry of Defence has recently completed the successful procurement of 67 Apache attack helicopters, and we have no plans for a further procurement.

Armed Forces: Training on Private Land

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will pay a retainer to land owners who permit Armed Forces training on their land to guarantee access for a specified number of days.

Lord Bach: We are reviewing our current arrangements with land owners for military training on private land. Decisions have not yet been made and are not expected for some time.

Royal Navy: Ships

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Royal Navy ships have been assigned, and between what dates, to NATO MCMFOR (South) over the past five years.

Lord Bach: The Royal Navy (RN) assigned the following ships to MCMFOR (South) between January 2000 and December 2002.
	
		
			 2000  
			 January-March HMS "Walney" 
			 April-July HMS "Atherstone" 
			 August-December gapped 
			 2001  
			 January-April HMS "Bridport" 
			 July-December HMS "Bangor" 
			 2002  
			 January-July HMS "Grimsby" 
			 August-December HMS "Pembroke" 
		
	
	Since 2002, the RN has not contributed a ship to MCMFOR(South) or to its successor formation, the Standing NATO Response Force MCM Group 2.

Royal Navy: Ships

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Royal Navy ships have been assigned, and between what dates, to NATO MCMFOR (North) over the past five years.

Lord Bach: Over the past five years, the Royal Navy ships assigned to NATO MCMFOR (North) and its successor formation, the Standing NATO Response Force MCM Group 1, are as follows.
	
		
			 2000  
			 January-March HMS "Brocklesby" 
			 April-July HMS "Cromer" 
			 August-December HMS "Grimsby" 
			 2001  
			 January-July HMS "Cromer" 
			 August-December HMS "Bridport" 
			 2002  
			 January-March HMS "Penzance" 
			 April-July HMS "Ledbury" 
			 August-December HMS "Walney" 
			 2003  
			 January-March HMS "Walney" 
			 April-December HMS "Inverness" 
			 2004  
			 January-April HMS "Blyth" 
			 May-July HMS "Penzance" 
			 August-December HMS "Shoreham" 
			 2005  
			 January-March HMS "Pembroke" 
			 April- HMS "Ramsey"

Royal Air Force: Exercises

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is (a) the scope and (b) the cost of Royal Air Force involvement in the United States in exercise Joint Red Flag 2005.
	What is (a) the scope and (b) the cost of Royal Air Force involvement in the United States in exercise Roving Sands 2005.

Lord Bach: Exercise Joint Red Flag 2005 provided comprehensive air warfare training for flying crews. It comprised several individual exercises, of which the Royal Air Force participated in three:
	Exercise Red Flag 05: 9 Tornado GR4 aircraft; 1 Nimrod R1 aircraft; and around 300 personnel;
	Exercise Roving Sands 05: 9 Tornado F3 aircraft; 1 OD Sentry aircraft; and around 250 personnel;
	Exercise Virtual Flag: Simulator training involving 16 personnel.
	The additional cost of the RAF participation in Joint Red Flag 2005 was approximately £985,000, of which £450,000 relates to exercise Roving Sands 2005.

Army: Infantry Units

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 22 March (WA 38), when the Director of Infantry will make the announcement about the precise timing of the reductions in infantry battalions, in light of the forecast by the Chief of General Staff on 16 December 2004 that the announcement would be made in late January.

Lord Bach: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 23 March 2005, (Official Report, col. WA 38). There is nothing further to add at this stage.

Royal Air Force Centrifuge

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 17 January (WA 90), whether the announcement by Environmental Tectonics Corporation (ETC) made in the United States on 8 February, that the company had resolved its dispute in relation to contract No. AESIA/127, of 2 June 1995 with a payment of £2.5 million by the Ministry of Defence to ETC, is correct; and whether this represents the resolution of the dispute to which reference is made in the Answer.

Lord Bach: There is no record of a contract AESIA/127. If such a contract existed it would have originated in the early 1990s and by now would most likely have expired.

Showmen's Guild of Great Britain

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will respond to the report, submitted at the invitation of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Ms Yvette Cooper, in June 2004, by the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain on the difficulties experienced by their members in obtaining planning permission.

Lord Rooker: My honourable friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford will be responding to correspondence received from the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain shortly.

British Food Fortnight

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What support they will give to British Food Fortnight, in particular to work with schools to help teachers develop awareness and interest among pupils in the quality and variety of their diet; and
	What use they made of the 2,500 resource packs developed by British Food Fortnight in 2004 to help with the curriculum development of food, nutrition and food production.

Lord Filkin: The department welcomes the work of British Food Fortnight and wishes the organisation every success in building upon the achievements that our seedcorn funding over the past two years has helped to secure.
	The 20,000 resource packs produced for the 2004 event jointly by the department and British Food Fortnight have been widely requested by schools and distributed to them and other organisations.

Teacher Training

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answers by the Lord Triesman on 10 March (Official Report, col. 840–842), what proportion of active teachers entered teaching via a bachelor of education degree.

Lord Filkin: Some 37 per cent of teachers in service in the maintained schools sector in England in March 2003, who qualified after 1986, entered teaching via a bachelor of education degree. Information is not available for teachers who qualified in earlier years.

McKinsey and Co.

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any Minister or official from (a) the Prime Minister's Office, or (b) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has met any employee, paid or unpaid, from McKinsey and Company Incorporated in the past two years; and on each occasion what were the nature of and reason for the meeting.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Ministers and officials hold meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. Details of all such meetings are not maintained centrally and to search for the detailed information would involve disproportionate cost. However, so far as can be ascertained at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, officials have met persons acting in their capacity as employees of McKinsey and Company on four occasions in the past two years. No meetings have taken place between such persons and DCMS Ministers in that period. To disclose what has been discussed at such meetings would not be in the public interest, as it would harm the frankness and candour of discussion. All meetings are conducted in accordance with the Civil Service Code and the Ministerial Code.

Licensing Act 2003

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what occasions the Metropolitan Police have objected to the grant or renewal of a licence under the Licensing Act 2004 in 2004 and in 2005 to date; and with what results.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The legislation referred to is the Licensing Act 2003 which was not implemented in 2004 and did not allow applications for the grant of licences to be made in that year. In addition, there are no renewal procedures under the 2003 Act. It was not until 7 February 2005 that licensing authorities were given the authority to accept applications to convert existing licences and also applications for new premises licences and club premises certificates. It is therefore too early to provide information on the number of licences to which the police have raised objections or the effect of these objections.

Civil Partnerships: Pension Rights

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, further to their consultation on the Civil Partnership (Amendment of provisions relating to contracted-out occupational and appropriate personal pension schemes) Order 2005, they intend to introduce an order amending provisions relating to contracted-in pension schemes, so that all survivor benefits for civil partners are based on members' rights accrued from 6 April 1988.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The only statutory requirements to provide for survivors' benefits apply to contracted-out pension schemes and that is why the draft order applies only to those schemes. Any other benefits over and above contracted-out pension benefits (including those in contracted-in schemes) will depend on what is permitted under scheme rules. It will be for individual schemes to decide what benefits will be payable to surviving civil partners.
	Occupational pension schemes, whether they are contracted out or not, are subject to the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003. Under the regulations, an employer may lawfully provide different benefits as between people who are married and those who are not married. The Government are currently seeking views on amendments to the regulations. Those amendments will provide that, for service after civil partnership is introduced, it will become unlawful to provide different benefits to civil partners and married persons on the grounds of their sexual orientation.

Equality Bill

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will introduce amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Race Relations Act 1976 (a) to extend the definition of "discriminatory practice" to include indirect as well as direct discrimination; and (b) to empower the Equality Commission to bring proceedings in respect of discriminatory practices in the same way as proceedings may now be brought in respect of discriminatory advertisements, instructions to discriminate and pressure to discriminate.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: There are currently no plans to amend the definition of "discriminatory practice" in the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 or the Race Relations Act 1976. We anticipate that the recently announced Discrimination Law Review on 25 February 2005 (Official Report, col. 69 WS) will look at these Acts in the round.
	The Equality Bill introduced into the House of Commons on 1 March does not make provision for the CEHR to bring proceedings in respect of discriminatory practice in the same way that proceedings can now be brought in respect of unlawful advertising, pressure and instructions to discriminate. The current arrangements for the latter permit the existing commissions to bring a case in its own name to a tribunal/court, whereas challenges to discriminatory practices are made by the commissions carrying out a formal investigation and issuing a non-discrimination notice.
	As currently drafted, the Equality Bill allows the CEHR to challenge discriminatory practices in the same way as the existing commissions. However, we are actively considering whether the CEHR's powers in relation to discriminatory practices should be amended.

Banking Services: Security

Lord Steinberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What safeguards they will put in place to prevent industrial and private hacking of individuals' bank accounts.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Security of banking services is a matter for the individual banks concerned and falls within the overall regime for the conduct of banking operations which is the responsibility of the Treasury. This department promotes the security of business processes and transactions generally and is thus in regular contact with individual banks and the Association for Payment and Clearing Services (APACS).
	The financial sector, including Internet banking, is one of the business sectors targeted as part of the UK's critical information infrastructure policy which is responsibility of the Home Office. I understand that there are regular contacts between the banking sector and the National Infrastructure Co-ordination Centre to develop and implement policy in this area.
	We are aware of the increase in phishing attacks designed to get account information from customers. We continue to work with the banks to minimise the impact on their industry by raising customer awareness.

Arms Export Licences

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What impact on the number of arms export licence applications the new Export Control Act 2002 has produced; and what changes in staffing levels in the Export Credits Guarantee Department have been made to match that impact.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Export Control Act 2002 introduced new controls on overseas trade in military goods, electronic transfers of military technology, and transfers by any means of technology and the provision of technical assistance for weapons of mass destruction end-use. Controls on physical exports of controlled goods, such as arms, however, were already in place and were simply consolidated into the new legislation. Therefore the Export Control Act will not specifically have any impact on the numbers of applications received by the DTI's Export Control Organisation to export arms from the UK. The Export Credits Guarantee Department's staffing levels are not limited to the Export Control Act.

Radioactive Waste Management

Lord Maclennan of Rogart: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who are the members of the steering group drawn from the radioactive waste policy group which has been asked to review policy for long-term management of the United Kingdom's low-level radioactive waste; and what are the terms of reference of the review.

Lord Whitty: The review of policy for the long-term management of the United Kingdom's (UK's) low-level radioactive waste is the responsibility of government (i.e. UK government and the devolved administrations). The aim of the policy review programme is to issue a consultation on the policy around the turn of the year. The initial stages of the review are being overseen by the Government's Radioactive Waste Policy Group (RWPG), made up of UK government, devolved administration and regulatory body representatives. RWPG's task is to consider the issues and potential solutions, on the basis of sounding stakeholder views, and to deliver drafts of consultation material for Government to consider. The steering group that RWPG has itself established to manage its work consists of representatives of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Scottish Executive (SE), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Environment Agency (EA), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The steering group is jointly chaired by Defra and the NDA. Representation from these organisations may change over time. Steering group meetings are also attended by representatives of: British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL), the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), British Energy (BEn), Nirex and GE Healthcare to assist with the preparation of data on the types and volumes of waste to be dealt with; University College London (UCL) which has been appointed as the independent facilitator for two stakeholder workshops to be held during the course of 2005; and Atkins Environment which is providing more general technical support to the work. The steering group's remit is to provide draft consultation material for the full RWPG to consider by around October/November 2005.

Cormorants

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they have put in place to ensure that shooting of cormorants under licence does not compromise public safety.

Lord Whitty: A licence granted by the department to allow the shooting of cormorants provides a defence for the licensee against prosecution under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the actions allowed under that licence. It does not exempt the licensee from any firearms legislation and/or other legislation which is designed to offer protection to the public, which must be complied with. As such, protection of the public is not affected by whether or not shooting takes place under a Defra licence and so no special measures are needed.

Lord Birt

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the terms of reference governing the work of the Prime Minister's strategy adviser, the Lord Birt, and the use of publicly-funded facilities afforded to him; and whether these are monitored by the Cabinet Secretary; and
	Whether the Prime Minister's strategy adviser, the Lord Birt, is required to adhere to Civil Service and any other codes of practice governing the conduct of special advisers.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Lord Birt is an unpaid adviser to the Prime Minister. He provides private internal advice to the Prime Minister and other Cabinet Ministers on a range of issues. The Prime Minister determines Lord Birt's work programme. Lord Birt has the use of administrative support and an office in 10 Downing Street, but he does not have any civil servants reporting directly to him. He conducts his activities in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Code.

Lord Birt

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What qualities are required of a member of the Cabinet Office Strategy Board; and whether the Lord Birt was required to go through Nolan procedures or an open interview before his appointment to that board.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The post of Prime Minister's strategy adviser is represented on the Cabinet Office Strategy Board. The current postholder is Lord Birt.
	Other posts represented on the strategy board are the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service; the Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator and Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office; the Managing Director, Cabinet Office; the Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister; the Director, Economic and Domestic Secretariat; the Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury; and the Non-Executive Chair, Cabinet Office Audit and Risk Committee.

Lord Birt

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What qualities are required of a member of the Civil Service Reform Programme Board; and whether the Lord Birt was required to go through Nolan procedures or an open interview before his appointment to that board.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The membership of the Civil Service Reform Programme Board is made up of six permanent secretaries and three experienced non-executive members.
	Lord Birt was invited to sit as a non-executive member due to his membership of the Cabinet Office Strategy Board and his experience of leading change in a large public sector organisation.

Lord Birt

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who appointed the Lord Birt as a member of the Civil Service Reform Programme Board and the Cabinet Office Strategy Board; and whether he was a strategy adviser to the Prime Minister at the time of his appointment; and
	What representations they received supporting the appointment of the Lord Birt as a member of the Civil Service Reform Programme Board and the Cabinet Office Strategy Board prior to his appointment; and who made such representations.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The post of Prime Minister's strategy adviser is represented on the Cabinet Office Strategy Board. The current postholder is Lord Birt.
	Lord Birt was invited to join the Civil Service Reform Programme Board by the Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service.
	Lord Birt was appointed as the Prime Minister's strategy adviser in October 2001, before the strategy board and Civil Service Reform Programme Board were established.

Public Bodies

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many non-departmental public bodies, executive agencies and similar bodies have been created since May 1997; what are their names and purposes; and to which government departments they are each accountable.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: This information is not collected centrally in the form requested.
	All agencies, their functions, the departments to which they are accountable and the responsible Ministers are recorded on a government website at www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/elmr/minister.nsf/HOME?OpenFrameSet.
	In addition, the annual Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies lists the number of non-departmental public bodies, their functions and their parent departments. The latest data record the existence of bodies as at 31 March 2004 and is available at www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/ndpb/ndpb.nsf. Previous copies of Public Bodies prior to March 2004 can be found in the Library.